When NBA champion Jaylen Brown confidently claimed back in August that streamer IShowSpeed didn’t stand a chance against him in a footrace, few thought the matchup would actually happen. But during Speed’s Speed Does America livestream tour stop in Boston, the challenge came to life.
The result? Speed not only proved Brown wrong but did it in dramatic fashion, crossing the finish line first before collapsing with a pulled hamstring.
iShowSpeed just won a foot race against NBA Star, Jaylen Brown, even though he pulled his hamstring MID RACE 😳🔥 pic.twitter.com/1E5V5Xqk7A
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) September 5, 2025
The race was set up with typical Speed flair. Dressed in an outfit resembling something from the Revolutionary War, Speed called Brown out, reminding him of his earlier comments. Rather than brush it off, Brown doubled down. He even added a wager to raise the stakes:
“If I beat you, you gotta change your name to something other than ‘Speed.’”
NBA champion Jaylen Brown challenged iShowSpeed to a race with the catch that Speed must change his name if he loses 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/WwiMK34QIp
— Speedy Updates (@SpeedUpdates1) September 5, 2025
When the countdown began, fans expected Brown’s elite athleticism to carry him with ease. Instead, Speed exploded off the line, powering ahead of the Celtics star and never looking back. As the crowd erupted, the streamer hit the finish line first, but his celebration was cut short. Almost immediately, he clutched his leg and dropped to the ground, wincing in pain.
“I pulled my hammie and I still won,” he yelled to the camera, his trademark energy intact even through the injury.
“Let’s go though, chat. W’s in the stream!”
His bodyguards rushed to help, but Speed insisted on making sure the moment was captured for his viewers.
Brown, stunned by the loss, managed to laugh it off with a playful jab. Taking to social media, he wrote:
“Change your name bro @ishowspeedsui… bro pulled his hamstring. Win is a win, lmk if you need a therapist.”
The comment kept the banter alive and reminded fans that while the competition was lighthearted, both sides took it seriously enough to create a viral moment.
Clips of the sprint quickly spread across X and Instagram, with reactions ranging from disbelief to pure comedy. Some fans couldn’t believe an influencer had just outrun an NBA Finals MVP, injury or not.
This isn’t Speed’s first viral athletic stunt. He previously lined up against Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles in a footrace, and he often incorporates sports challenges into his streams. His ability to combine entertainment with genuine bursts of athleticism is a big reason he continues to attract massive audiences online.
For Brown, the loss is unlikely to dent his reputation as one of the league’s top players. But it does serve as a reminder that competition can spring up anywhere and sometimes the most unexpected challenger can steal the spotlight.
As for Speed, the hamstring injury didn’t keep him from continuing his tour. Just hours later, he was back on stream, still reveling in the win despite the pain.
For IShowSpeed, beating an NBA superstar, even while hobbling afterward was another notch in his unpredictable rise as one of the internet’s biggest entertainers. For Brown, it was a humbling but humorous reminder that sometimes the underdog has the last laugh.
